THE development of 24 fish farming ponds in Mwandi district is transforming the lives of many of the participants, especially the youths, says one of the beneficiaries Sepiso Muyunda.

Mr Muyunda thanked the Government for the initiative aimed at alleviating poverty in the rural parts of the country.

He said most of the youths in Mwandi district depended on fishing and that the project had progressed well with a number of them benefiting from the national cake.

“This development of fish farming in Western Province through an increase of ponds by the Government has uplifted the majority of youths in rural areas, and this cannot go without praise from beneficiaries,” he said. Mr Muyunda said the projects had taken a right step in fish farming to produce breams for sale to the public even during the fish ban.

He said fish farming was key to rural food security because it was a source of income for most of the people engaged in the business.

He said the Government’s effort to promote fish farming should go a way to raise the scale of operations by attracting more investment into the sector for prospective participants. “This sector is in a good position to address the issues of unemployment, especially in rural areas, and therefore the fish promotion programme should be well developed, and we really thank the Government for the support,” he said.

Mr Muyunda said the extension of fish farming skills to more people in order for them to go into fish farming would put more money in their pockets and reduce poverty.

He said the fresh fish supplies from the 24 fish ponds when harvested would greatly reduce malnutrition in households both in Mwandi town and nearby villages in the district.

Recently Mwandi district commissioner Precious Muyenga revealed that beneficiaries of fish farming were receiving about K5,000 with two ponds each to start fish farming for survival even during the fish ban period. Ms Muyenga said about 45 youths and women who would benefit from the projects that had so far been approved.